China had pollution deaths nixed
BEIJING - Beijing persuaded the World Bank to cut from a report findings that pollution has caused about 750,000 premature deaths in China each year, the Financial Times reported.
The World Bank said Tuesday that the paper referred to a report that had not been finaliz

42.27 mln Chinese affected by floods, drought
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- 42.27 million Chinese have been affected by floods and drought so far this year, the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Monday.
Statistics showed that by July 2,

　  本报讯 （记者王佳琳）教育部关于禁止小学生参加公共英语考试的“遗留”问题最近出台解决方案。北京市教育考试培训中心昨天表示，按照教育部考试中心的规定，今年的全国公共英语等级考试将于7月开始报名，部分在今年3月份通过公共英语单科考试的小学生仍有报名机会。
　　昨天，负责承办北京地区公共英语考试的市教育考试培训中心有关负责人介绍，预计今年的公共英语报名工作将在7月中旬开始，今年仍将采用网上报名的方式。据了解，按照教育部考试中心的要求，今年的公共英语仍接受部分小学生报考———这些小学生须在3月的公共英语考试中通过了单科（笔试或口

      本报讯 （记者张灵）昨天，记者从北京教育考试指导中心获悉，全国英语等级考试报名工作将于本月中旬启动。报名中将增设考生年龄识别系统，义务教育阶段的考生将自动被筛选出来，取消报考资格。
　　按照教育部要求，从今年9月的全国英语等级考试起，各级组考机构不得受理义务教育阶段学生报考。为此，今年本市在报名中将对考生年龄进行严格把关。按照一般情况，高中以下的学生基本都在15岁以下，为此，网上报名系统将对考生个人信息进行筛选，15岁以下考生一般都不能获得报考资格。如出现年龄在15岁以

Bush, Putin meet over missile defense shield, Iran nuclear program
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday had informal talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over issues of anti-missile defense system and the disputed Iran nuclear program in Kennebunkport, Maine.

SHANGHAI, China - China\'s No. 1 oil company, CNPC, and Indonesia\'s PT Pertamina have agreed to co-develop a Sudanese offshore oil block, ignoring international efforts to isolate Sudan over the crisis in its Darfur region, a report said Monday.
The agreement, signed Thursday in Sudan\'s capital, Khartoum, ca

China Southern in talks with Air France-KLM over cargo joint venture
China Southern Airlines and Air France-KLM said they have agreed to hold exclusive talks over establishing a joint-venture cargo airline in China.
"It indicates discussions between the two companies have entered a

　   据中国国家汉办网消息：经国家汉办批准，2007年6月23日，西班牙格拉纳达大学成功举办了首次汉语水平考试(HSK)。
　　格拉纳达大学历史悠久，是西班牙汉语教学历史最长的大学，也是西班牙南部高等院校中唯一设立汉语专业的大学。该校与北京大学有长达20年的教师交流与合作，翻译了包括《红楼梦》在内的一大批中国古典文学名著。去年与中国国家汉办签署了合作建设孔子学院的协议。
　　中国驻西班牙使馆教育一秘王志伟专程赶赴格拉纳达大学监督考试的进行。格拉纳达大学汉语教师胡安博士、张正权博士、国家公派汉语教师张念负责监考

    荆楚网消息（楚天都市报）（记者陈俊旺）湖北省高考志愿昨日填报结束，又有不少低分考生打算自费出国留学。如何避免“留学陷阱”？6月29日，教育部公布了更新后的33个国家教育资质较为可靠的万余所学校名单，同时公布留学择校“六大提醒”。
    教育部有关负责人介绍，近年来，自费出国留学人数增多，中外教育机构合作频繁。但由于部分留学人员对国外学校情况缺乏了解，有的留学人员到国外后上当受骗，损失很大。还有个别机构或个人发布虚假信息，或利用留学服务合同欺骗消费者，或以境外院校

80 Afghan civilians killed by air strike
KABUL, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A recent air strike carried out by international troops deployed in the country at least killed 80 Afghan civilians in Gereshk district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, local police said Sunday.
Foreign

Chinese envoy: China to donate 600,000 dollars to AU
ACCRA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government will donate 600,000 U.S. dollars to the African Union (AU), Chinese envoy and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun has said.
Of the money, 300,000 dollars will be earmark

Consumer spending up as incomes rebound
WASHINGTON - Consumers boosted their spending in May as their incomes grew solidly, an encouraging sign that high gasoline prices haven\'t killed people\'s appetite to buy. Inflation moderated.
It was the second month in a row that consumer spen

HONG KONG -- Veteran Hong Kong performer Andy Lau sang a patriotic tune, Chinese acrobats juggled dishes and champion Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang offered congratulations in a variety show to mark the territory\'s 10th anniversary Sunday of return to China.
Lion dancers perform during the Grand Variety Sh

In the past two months, Hong Kong has warmed up for celebrating the 10th anniversary of its return to the Chinese motherland with all kinds of anniversary-related activities.
On May 25, a large-scale Buddha symphony performance was held in Hong Kong to bless Hong Kong and the whole country.
The day bef

"One country, two systems" concept guarantees HK\'s prosperity, stability: President Hu
The concept of "one country, two systems" guarantees the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and will prove more successful in the future, said Chinese President Hu Jintao here on Satu